What was once a small town on the outskirts of Savannah has, in recent years, transformed into one of the region’s fastest-growing communities, with new neighborhoods and commercial developments reshaping Pooler.
The signs of growth are hard to miss. Traffic builds along busy corridors as commuters head home, many to new apartments and townhomes.
The city's comprehensive plan is nearing completion, and an updated version revealed via a survey how Pooler residents feel regarding housing growth.
By the numbers
- 87% of respondents say the city needs fewer apartments
- 74% of respondents say the city needs fewer mobile homes
- 53% of respondents say the city needs fewer townhomes
- 48% of respondents say the city needs more single-family housing
- 43% of respondents strongly disagree that their neighborhood should have a mix of housing types
- 43% of respondents somewhat agree that existing housing in their neighborhood is well maintained and of good quality
- 42% of respondents did not have an opinion on whether Pooler provided sufficient supportive/transitional housing options
- 22% of respondents say the city’s housing options meet the community’s needs
On the surface, it may seem as though there is no shortage of living options in Pooler. Clear Lake Reserve and Pine Barren Place are two new townhome communities, while apartment complexes like Monument at Pooler began leasing within the last year. But the survey
shows that 105 out of the 245 respondents want more single-family housing.
A spokesperson for the city says more than1,200 construction permits were approved in 2025, including 308 single-family units and 497 multi-family units. In May, a site plan was approved for Town Centre multifamily, featuring 354 units.
What is driving growth in Pooler?
According to U.S. Census data, the city's population is estimated to have reached nearly 33,000 in 2025. In April 2020, the city's population was 25,711, and 19,140 in 2010. The city's comprehensive plan states that in 2023, the city's overall population density stood at 879 people per square mile, a moderately high number, according to the census.
Realtor Trisha Cook said key infrastructure improvements and employment opportunities have been the driving factors for growth in Pooler over the years. Those changes have led to a need for more housing.
The Savannah airport and Gulfstream together employ thousands of people, meaning individuals are consistently moving into the region to take positions at those places. The construction of Pooler Parkway has created a pathway for commercial growth, which has led to hundreds of jobs, a number of which come from such restaurants as Chick-fil-A, Chili's, Jim-N-Nick's and Buffalo Wild Wings.
"People who work for General Dynamics and Boeing come here to take engineering jobs at Gulfstream," said Cook. "Savannah Quarters is also a big attraction. You can get to Bluffton in 30 minutes and Richmond Hill in 20 minutes from Pooler. It is central to everything."
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Population boom reshapes Pooler, raising concerns about housing mix
